Contusions and abrasions

A contusion represents an injury to the soft tissues and is associated with tenderness, swelling, and ecchymosis/bruising. The treatment is to apply an ice pack to the affected area. These injuries can be expected to resolve over several days to weeks. Abrasions are partial-thickness losses of skin caused by shearing forces. Adequate cleaning followed by topical antibiotic ointment for one week is usually adequate. They usually progress to scab formation and then fully resolve.